122 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



The STAG, or RED-DEER, 



is the moft beautiful animal of the Deer kind. The ele- 

 gance of his form, the lightnefs of his motions, the flexi- 

 bility of his limbs, his bold, branching horns, which are 

 annually renewed, his grandeur, ftrength, and fwiftnefs, 

 give him a decided pre-eminence over every other inha- 

 bitant of the foreft. 



The age of the Stag is known by its horns. The firft 

 year exhibits only a fliort protuberance, which is covered 

 with a hairy {kin ; the next year, the horns are ftraight 

 and fingle; the third year produces two antlers, the 

 fourth three, the fifth four; and, when arrived at the 



